Scenarios for Sustainable Farming Systems for Macadamia Nuts and Mangos Using a Systems Dynamics Lens in the Vhembe District, Limpopo South Africa
Agriculture is arguably one of the most important economic sectors for South Africa’s development as it is directly linked to food security. Farming systems in South Africa have been characterized by a duality where large-scale commercial farmers and small-scale farmers co-exist. The conventional ap...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2022-10-01
|
| Series: | Agriculture |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/12/10/1724 |
| _version_ | 1797476226458189824 |
|---|---|
| author | Fenji Materechera Mary Scholes |
| author_facet | Fenji Materechera Mary Scholes |
| author_sort | Fenji Materechera |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Agriculture is arguably one of the most important economic sectors for South Africa’s development as it is directly linked to food security. Farming systems in South Africa have been characterized by a duality where large-scale commercial farmers and small-scale farmers co-exist. The conventional approach to understanding agricultural production in the country has always viewed the two farming systems as mutually exclusive. The study argues that there are various points of interaction between the two kinds of farmers and by using a systems dynamics approach to evaluate the two farming systems this can be applied to agricultural decision making. Data were used to identify and characterise small- and large-scale farming systems of two tree crops (mangos—<i>Mangifera indica</i> L. and macadamia nuts—<i>Macadamia integrifolia</i> M&B.) in the Vhembe district of Limpopo South Africa. The interactions between the two different farmers are illustrated using Causal Loop Diagrams (CLDs) of the two farming systems under similar commodities. Results, presented as four conceptual scenarios, show that there are multiple points of interaction, such as the interdependence of farmers of macadamia nuts to meet export demands. Policy recommendations to strengthen collaboration between small-scale mango farmers and implement irrigation expansion for farmers who depend on rain-fed farming are discussed and present opportunities for the co-functioning of the two farming systems. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T20:55:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e20a4e7f5dca4b628345d70320c547df |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-0472 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T20:55:57Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agriculture |
| spelling | doaj.art-e20a4e7f5dca4b628345d70320c547df2023-11-23T22:23:08ZengMDPI AGAgriculture2077-04722022-10-011210172410.3390/agriculture12101724Scenarios for Sustainable Farming Systems for Macadamia Nuts and Mangos Using a Systems Dynamics Lens in the Vhembe District, Limpopo South AfricaFenji Materechera0Mary Scholes1School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences (APES), University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2000, South AfricaSchool of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences (APES), University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2000, South AfricaAgriculture is arguably one of the most important economic sectors for South Africa’s development as it is directly linked to food security. Farming systems in South Africa have been characterized by a duality where large-scale commercial farmers and small-scale farmers co-exist. The conventional approach to understanding agricultural production in the country has always viewed the two farming systems as mutually exclusive. The study argues that there are various points of interaction between the two kinds of farmers and by using a systems dynamics approach to evaluate the two farming systems this can be applied to agricultural decision making. Data were used to identify and characterise small- and large-scale farming systems of two tree crops (mangos—<i>Mangifera indica</i> L. and macadamia nuts—<i>Macadamia integrifolia</i> M&B.) in the Vhembe district of Limpopo South Africa. The interactions between the two different farmers are illustrated using Causal Loop Diagrams (CLDs) of the two farming systems under similar commodities. Results, presented as four conceptual scenarios, show that there are multiple points of interaction, such as the interdependence of farmers of macadamia nuts to meet export demands. Policy recommendations to strengthen collaboration between small-scale mango farmers and implement irrigation expansion for farmers who depend on rain-fed farming are discussed and present opportunities for the co-functioning of the two farming systems.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/12/10/1724interactionsscenariossystems dynamicsagricultureSouth Arica |
| spellingShingle | Fenji Materechera Mary Scholes Scenarios for Sustainable Farming Systems for Macadamia Nuts and Mangos Using a Systems Dynamics Lens in the Vhembe District, Limpopo South Africa Agriculture interactions scenarios systems dynamics agriculture South Arica |
| title | Scenarios for Sustainable Farming Systems for Macadamia Nuts and Mangos Using a Systems Dynamics Lens in the Vhembe District, Limpopo South Africa |
| title_full | Scenarios for Sustainable Farming Systems for Macadamia Nuts and Mangos Using a Systems Dynamics Lens in the Vhembe District, Limpopo South Africa |
| title_fullStr | Scenarios for Sustainable Farming Systems for Macadamia Nuts and Mangos Using a Systems Dynamics Lens in the Vhembe District, Limpopo South Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Scenarios for Sustainable Farming Systems for Macadamia Nuts and Mangos Using a Systems Dynamics Lens in the Vhembe District, Limpopo South Africa |
| title_short | Scenarios for Sustainable Farming Systems for Macadamia Nuts and Mangos Using a Systems Dynamics Lens in the Vhembe District, Limpopo South Africa |
| title_sort | scenarios for sustainable farming systems for macadamia nuts and mangos using a systems dynamics lens in the vhembe district limpopo south africa |
| topic | interactions scenarios systems dynamics agriculture South Arica |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/12/10/1724 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT fenjimaterechera scenariosforsustainablefarmingsystemsformacadamianutsandmangosusingasystemsdynamicslensinthevhembedistrictlimpoposouthafrica AT maryscholes scenariosforsustainablefarmingsystemsformacadamianutsandmangosusingasystemsdynamicslensinthevhembedistrictlimpoposouthafrica |